New Launch of Simple Boat

Ron Ellis' new transcription of SIMPLE BOAT is simply stunning!  It was premiered today, under his direction,  by the University of Central Florida Symphonic Wind Ensemble, at the national convention of the American School Band Directors Association in Orlando.  Since my music (I thought) is inseparable from the words and emotional intent of the text, I was curious to see if it would translate as a purely instrumental work.  The colors that Ron coaxed from the ensemble in his exquisite scoring convince me that emotional content is inherent in the melodies, rhythms and harmonic language themselves; that form and architecture, gestures and turns of phrase, inevitability of harmonic rhythm all contribute to what we "feel" from the music.  I still know that the initial musical impulse, for me, comes directly from my response to the words (and thank Ron for including the texts in the players scores as they unfold).  I think and write poetically.   But I am also aware that emotion thus embedded in the musical language remains, whether or not the text is present.  I am honored by this transcription and the artistry our UCF students brought to the performance.